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Thorne: Playing away isn't much of a factor these days

Reuben Thorne thinks times have changed

Former All Black captain Rueben Thorne reckons the prospect of playing a Super Rugby playoff isn’t as hard as it was in the old days.

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And he’d know. The durable flanker played in all seven of the Crusaders’ grand final wins, across 10 seasons. Speaking specifically about the Highlanders’ trip to AMI Stadium in Christchurch, Thorne told Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina on the Rugby Pass Podcast:

“I think most teams would prefer to be playing their finals at home…but in saying that, I think teams these days are much better at playing away as well. The Highlanders will be pretty comfortable coming up here and putting in a strong performance. I know the Crusaders have played away and won, so while it is a factor, I don’t think it’s enough of one to influence the outcome.”

Thorne does have a valid point, the last two games between the Crusaders and Highlanders have had very similar finishes despite being played in both teams’ home grounds.

That’ll be cold comfort to the Highlanders though, both of those games were heartbreaking losses.

Thorne also opened up about how former Crusaders coach Robbie Deans would get the team motivated every season, saying he was ‘a master at pushing the right buttons.’

Listen to the whole chat with Reuben Thorne, as well as a full break down on the Super Rugby playoffs on The Rugby Pass Podcast:

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Nickers 20 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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